First report on trafficking in human beings in Europe published; Protection of victims of human trafficking in Ireland addressed by the EU's Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator

On 15 April, the first report on trafficking in human beings in Europe was published by the European Commission. 

The report, which provides an analysis of human trafficking in the European Union from 2008 to 2010, found that there are more than 23,000 identified and presumed victims of trafficking across the EU. The research highlighted that while there has been an 18 per cent increase in the number of victims over the three year period, the number of convictions of perpetrators has decreased by 13 per cent.

The report’s key figures and statistics are as follows:

• The majority of trafficking victims are women (68%), followed by men (17%), girls (12%) and boys (3%);
• Most of the victims referred to in the study come from EU member states; (61%), and come in particularly high numbers from Romania and Bulgaria;
• Victims from outside the EU are more often from Nigeria and China;
• Sexual exploitation is the main side of this type of crime (62% of victims), followed by forced labour (25%) and the category ‘other’ (14%), which includes trafficking for the purpose of forced begging, removal of organs, forced marriages and selling of children.

The report called for the full and swift transposition of the EU Anti-Trafficking Directive by all EU Member States.  Only six EU Member States have fully transposed the Directive while three Members have partially transposed the directive into their national legislation despite the fact that the deadline for transposition expired on 6 April 2013.

The aim of the Directive is to harmonise minimum sentences against human trafficking and provide better protection and supports for victims. It also provides for the establishment of a national rapporteur in each Member State to report on trends, gather data and measure the impact of anti-trafficking activities.

At a press conference to launch the new report, the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström said “It is high time for Member States to stop dragging their feet” and called upon States to implement the Directive without delay. 

Click here to read the report 

Click here to read a Europa press release

Meanwhile, on Friday 12 April the EU Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator, Myria Vasssiliadou met with representatives of Barnardos, the Immigrant Council of Ireland , Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and Ruhama to discuss Ireland’s response to human trafficking. 

Ahead of the talks, the four organisations highlighted a number of shortfalls in the Irish system for discussion. These included a failure to identify and protect victims as well as a lack of prosecutions.

The group said that Ms. Vassiliadou’s visit provides an important opportunity to undertake an honest assessment Ireland’s policies and laws in relation to the trafficking of human beings into and within Ireland. “It is important to acknowledge the positive lead the EU has taken to ensure individual Member States are meeting their obligations on trafficking and we look forward to positive discussions with the co-ordinator” said the group.

Click here to read a joint statement by Barnardos, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland and Ruhama